SENIORS DISCOVER SITTING TAI CHI IS GREAT MEDICINE FOR MANY AILMENTS
TELLURIDE, COLORADO (January 22, 2019) —The clinical research is piling up in favor of Tai Chi. The American Journal of Health Promotion (AJHP) published an eye-opening, benchmark review of clinical research1about the medical benefits of Tai Chi. Authors Dr. Roger Jahnke and Dr. Linda Larkey canonized the substantially favorable effects Tai Chi had on bone density, cardiopulmonary and physical functions, falls and balance, psychological symptoms, immune-related responses and others by compiling 77 peer-reviewed, randomized control trials conducted between 1993 and 2007.
One of the more surprising studies included in the AJHP review measured cell-mediated immunity to the varicella zoster virus, or shingles. Tai Chi not only boosted immunity to shingles, but also augmented the immunity of the shingles vaccine2. In laymen’s terms, practicing slow, relaxing Tai Chi movements and deep breathing can really help fight a nasty, herpes virus related to chicken pox. Another set of trials demonstrated that Tai Chi offers significant increase in balance and can greatly reduce falls in older adults.
Since the AJHP (meta-analysis) review, many more clinical research trials have demonstrated that Tai Chi practice can provide lifechanging benefits for a multitude of health issues like multiple sclerosis, COPD, Parkinson’s, chronic pain, and diabetes. Tufts Medical Center found in 2016 that Tai Chi is as effective as physical therapy to reduce the pain and physical impairment of severe knee osteoarthritis3. In fact, you can do a Internet search on “Tai Chi for” and just about any health condition and you’ll probably find something encouraging.
Tai Chi Master Tommy Kirchhoff’s “Gentle, Sitting Tai Chi” DVD guides individuals with limited mobility through gentle movements, relaxation and deep breathing. AssistedLivingToday.com ranks it as one of the top exercise buys for seniors, and it has been an Amazon top Best Seller since 2016. The product reviews on Amazon alone read like a book of mini-miracles:
“My husband is partially paralyzed and I've been very sick for 2 years and it's just what we needed.”
“I have a lung disorder that makes it hard to breathe, so this DVD is really helpful.”
“Use this (DVD) every morning. I have MS (and) this helps a lot.”
“Best sitting video that I have found. Great for those recovering from major surgeries, etc.”
“A few months ago the back problems grew worse and my wife was becoming quite miserable. It has been less than a week and she has been playing the video in the morning when she first gets up. My wife has become almost a cult follower; she tells me she is totally painless now. I don't know if she is blowing smoke, but she sure seems to move around the house like nothing is bothering her.”
“Having COPD and the top lobe of each lung removed-- this is nice product.”
“My husband Andrew has had two heart attacks, a stroke, an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a triple heart bypass, throat cancer, a compression back fracture, and many other physical aliments. He was falling twice a week. Since using your Sitting Tai Chi DVD his balance has improved, and so has his focus and energy, so I want to say thank you so much.”
Master Kirchhoff offers, “Mobility is the first indicator of health, while sedentariness leads to sickness. Everyone knows that exercise is critical to good health, but Tai Chi is endorsed by the Mayo Clinic, the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Disease Control, Harvard Health, WebMD, and Dr. Oz because the benefits of Tai Chi go much farther than just taking a walk or lifting some dumbells. Tai Chi shifts the focus from strenuous exercise to relaxing movement and deep breathing as a legitimate source of healing.”
The complete collection of Tommy Kirchhoff’s Tai Chi DVDs, including Sitting Tai Chi, Standing Energy Tai Chi and Golden Form Tai Chi, is available for purchase at HealingExercise.org, with downloads available as well.
To learn more about Healing Exercise’s Tai Chi practice and products, contact Tommy Kirchhoff with Healing Exercise at 888.278.6028 or help@HealingExercise.org. Additional information can be found at HealingExercise.org.
ABOUT HEALING EXERCISE
Healing Exercise is the highest authority of Tai Chi and therapeutic exercise. They provide an innovative approach to self-care medicinal movement based on the physicality of the end-users. Their gentle, Tai Chi-based physical programs have been refined over three decades. For more information, visit HealingExercise.org.
3. Ann. Intern Med. 2016 Jul 19;165(2):77-86. doi: 10.7326/M15-2143.
4 Ways Cannabis Can Benefit Your Workout Regimen
People associate cannabis with all sorts of things. People nowadays are even beginning to associate the plant with exercise boons, believe it or not. If you want to take your exercise routine to the next level, it may be time to find out all you can about cannabis and how it can aid you. Cannabis may be able to revitalize your whole approach to physical fitness.
Inflammation Management
Inflammation can be a serious issue for people who exercise all of the time. Thankfully, cannabis may have the ability to decrease it considerably. If you want to take care of inflammation that affects your joints and muscles, help in the form of cannabis may be out there for you. CBD or “cannabidiol” is thought to be an inflammation management powerhouse.
Managing Sore Muscles
Soreness is often a dilemma for people who do a lot of exercise and moving their bodies around in general. If you want to decrease feelings of soreness during the breaks in the middle of your exercise sessions, the assistance of cannabis may go a long way for you. People who want to say farewell to body rigidity and lack of pliability often take the cannabis path. You can find out more about the whole concept by reaching out to recreational cannabis dispensariesin your region.
Handling Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms can be unpleasant for people who do a lot of working out. If you want to handle your muscle spasms, then the cooperation of marijuana could be a smart option for you. Cannabis is often thought to make the healing of muscles go a lot more smoothly. Its ability to lessen muscle spasms may be the result of its anti-inflammatory components.
Sleep Help
Adequate amounts of sleep are 100 percent essential for people who want to flourish during their workout sessions. It can be difficult for people who are fatigued and sleepy to make the most out of their exercise schedules. If you want to strengthen your sleep hygiene, it may be time to learn everything you can about cannabis and getting shut-eye. People who don’t want to feel lethargic are often big cannabis devotees.
Exercise is a wonderful thing for the human body. If you’re keen on optimal health and fitness, you should make a point to learn about any and all exercise options that are in front of you. Optimizing your exercise approach is always a fantastic method.
Bored with the Bench? Unconventional Workout Equipment for Your Home
The same old workout can get boring, and if you love pushing your body, you know that standard workouts aren't going to get you better results. Both your body and mind get accustomed to the same routines, and you can reach plateaus. If you want to challenge yourself, consider using the following pieces of workout equipment.
Battle Ropes If you want to strengthen your arms, shoulders, and lats, you should install battle ropes in your home gym. But the benefits don't end there; when you move these heavy, corded ropes, you also work your abs, glutes, and back. While you might associate battle ropes with only a limited number of exercises, there are several workout routinesthat you can incorporate.
Steel Mace There are several benefits to incorporating a steel mace bar into your home gym. One of the most obvious ones is that it doesn't require any installation. All you need is enough room to swing the steel mace without hitting anything. There are also many benefits to your body. A steel mace is designed to incorporate instability to increase strength and agility. When you're using traditional weights, your body might become rigid. But when you use a steel mace to train, your body must react as the weight shifts. Steel mace bars are also great because they allow you to change the level of difficulty simply by moving your hands. If you need to start out on an easier mode, keep your hands spread wide apart. If you want more of a challenge, keep them closer together and farther away from the ball.
Parallettes As a piece of equipment that is designed to simulate the uneven bars in gymnastics, parallettes are used by many fitness enthusiasts. This type of equipment is great for a home gym because the bars are small, and you can store them when you're not using them, giving you more room in small home gyms. You can use your own body weight to build strength in your arms, back, core, and even your legs.
Swim Spa Swim spas are infinite swimming pools. While you need some space in your backyard, you need considerably less than you would with a traditional swimming pool. Plus, you never run into a wall, and you can set the speed that you want to swim at. Many companies, such as Marquis Spas, can help you find the right swim spa for your needs.
Weight benches are classic fitness equipment, but more fitness enthusiasts are learning about the benefits of switching up their routines. By combining routines that challenge your body, you can push it to the next le
National Marijuana Legislation At Fork In The Legislative Road The dream of marijuana advocates is that Congress will pass a marijuana bill that will make pot instantly legal throughout America. But even though the midterm elections brought more people to Congress who support marijuana reform, it looks like that dream may have to wait. In the meantime, several bills have been filed in the new Democrat-controlled House of Representatives that take different approaches to the issue. The most important differences concern how these bills handle the Controlled Substances Act, which classifies marijuana as similar to heroin and cocaine. Just like its name implies, HB 420 – the “Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act” – would regulate marijuana just like alcohol is across the country. The second bill, “Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act,” would not. A third bill, the “Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act (“CARERS Act”) would essentially nullify application of the Controlled Substances Act as to medical marijuana in compliance with state law. The CARERS Act also would authorize physicians at the Department of Veterans Affairs to recommend medical marijuana to veterans who live in states with medical marijuana programs. “It will be interesting to see which of these bills garners the most support,” says Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish (www.sarahleegossettparrish.com), a cannabis industry lawyer. “HB 420 is certainly more sweeping, but the STATES Act may obtain more bipartisan support, and the CARERS Act likely will be popular with those who believe marijuana should be legalized only when its usage is indicated for medicinal value” The STATES Act is narrower and relies more on the argument that states should decide how to handle marijuana reform instead of Washington. Supporters of the bill think that approach would also allow a defense for conservative members of Congress who vote for the bill. “Congress members with conservative constituencies could rest on the tenet that states’ rights issues carry the day, without wading too deeply into the issues concerning legalization of marijuana at the federal level,” says Parrish. “It would also give them a defense against conservative critics who might call them soft on crime or soft on drugs if they support the bill.” The STATES Act would allow states to legalize marijuana without the threat of federal interference. Unlike HB 420, it would not legalize marijuana at the federal level. However, it gives each state the freedom to decide how to handle cannabis within its own borders, and more importantly, it would make it unlawful for the Department of Justice to enforce provisions of the Controlled Substances Act against state-legal marijuana users and cannabis businesses. The Cannabis Trade Federation (“CTA”) supports the STATES Act because it believes this bill has the best chance of passage. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Corey Gardner have championed the bill in the Senate. Many pot supporters think the CTA should be pressuring lawmakers to sign on with Blumenauer’s 420 bill instead of supporting the STATES Act. HB 420 would allow for the interstate transportation of marijuana, while the STATES Act would not. A Gallup poll recently found that:
Two out of three Americans favor national legalization.
More than 93 percent favor allowing a physician to prescribe medical cannabis to patients.
Only 13 percent of respondents said they would vote for a candidate based on that candidate’s position on marijuana legalization.
Parrish says regardless of which bill makes it through Congress, it will have a positive impact and will clarify the issue for everybody who involved in the cannabis legalization movement. About Sarah Lee Gossett ParrishSarah Lee Gossett Parrish (www.sarahleegossettparrish.com) is a cannabis industry attorney and is admitted to practice in Oklahoma and in Texas. She is a member of the National Cannabis Bar Association, National Cannabis Industry Association, and NORML. She is admitted to practice in all state and federal District Courts in Oklahoma; the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit,and the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Parrish received her B.A. in Letters from the University of Oklahoma, Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude. She also served as Chairman of the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women for the State of Oklahoma and was instrumental in starting the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Her legal thriller, Guilt of Innocence, placed second in the New York Law Journal's national fiction writing contest.
One Woman's Mission To 'Quiet The Anger' And Reduce Stress
Charlotte, NC, January 17, 2019 ― Charlotte pastor and face of the popular Car Chronicles Movement, Jameliah Young-Mitchell has penned The Death of the Angry Black Woman—a book published by Warren Publishing that discusses stereotypes faced by African-American women. The book released at #1 on Amazon.com for New Releases in the Anger Management category.
Anger can get the best of many women, but when anger erupts into rage and leads to shouting, fighting, and name-calling, it's time to look within and make a change. The Death of the Angry Black Woman boldly acknowledges stereotypes faced by women in the black community and uncovers the seeds that lead many to live anger-filled lives. Instilled with Biblical scripture and jaw-dropping honesty, this debut book from Pastor Jameliah Young-Mitchell, the voice behind the popular Car Chronicles Movement, will empower you to bury your anger, reject false labels, and embrace the new you.
"I wrote this book for all the women out there who are dealing with anger that they have yet to find the source of,” said Young-Mitchell. "Many women in the black community come from backgrounds of abuse, mistreatment, violence––and they become fighters. Through my book I hope to be that voice in their head, the one we all hear but rarely acknowledge, encouraging them to move on, let go of anger, reject hateful labels, embrace their powerful femininity, and live the life God intended them to live.”
Pastor Jameliah Young-Mitchell is the daughter of the late Evangelist Violetta B. Young and Pastor James I. Young, and grew up in Brooklyn, NY, as the youngest of four kids. She has preached across the United States and internationally and is the pastor of Unity Church Charlotte. Young-Mitchell is an experienced keynote speaker for women's empowerment, teen and youth mentoring, corporate America, and relationships. She is the voice behind the popular Car Chronicles Movement where she can be seen live on Facebook Monday through Friday at 7:30 a.m. Young-Mitchell is the proud mother of a son and daughter and resides in Charlotte, NC, with her husband, Calvin W. Mitchell.
The Death of the Angry Black Woman is available at warrenpublishing.net, Amazon.com, or wherever books are sold. Jameliah Young-Mitchell is available for book signings and interviews.
Select excerpts from many five-star reviews on Amazon.com:
"This book is an awesome read! The transparency and life examples of Pastor Jameliah Young- Mitchell gives [sic] the reader a firsthand view of what an overcomer looks like. There is something for everyone to learn and apply to their lives to become better people.”
"At first I wasn't interested in reading this book because I felt that I was not 'Angry' but as I read I discovered that I was angry and suffered some of the same things but learned how to mask the pain. This book allowed me to begin the process of a new me. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is in need of refocusing.”
"I recently joined a book club with a few other ladies and this was one of the first books recommended. I could relate to a lot of the content in the book and was able to dig a little deeper and have a little self-reflection afterwards. I highly recommend this!”
"I liked everything about the book. From the start to the end... it's a mind-blowing moment for real I tell you! This is a 10-star book.”
"This book is just awesome. It has definitely set me free, it has been a blessing to My Mind & Soul.”
"[Jameliah] is very candid in this book. She has a way of leading, teaching, and encouraging, all while openly acknowledging that she too is still learning. It is written in such a way that EVERYBODY can understand. I love it!!”
New Data from CB2 Insights Shows Majority of Patients Seeking Cannabis for Mood-Related Conditions
Leading Global Cannabis Data Company Publishes Real World Evidence Report on Trends in Medical Cannabis and Depression, Anxiety and PTSD
TORONTO, ON – January 15, 2019 –CB2 Insights (“CB2” or the “Company”) a leading global provider of predictive analytics tools, data-driven software and comprehensive services across the medical cannabis value chain, has released, “Real-World Evidence Shows Patients Seeking Cannabis For Mood Disorders,” its first report in a comprehensive series outlining trends and insights found within the medical cannabis industry. The report, which was conducted over a 4-week period, focuses on the propensity of mood-related conditions in medical cannabis patients and provides comparative analysis with other qualifying primary conditions and condition categories such as sleep, pain, appetite and others.
According to the study, CB2 Insights found mood-related conditions accounted for the majority (34.77 percent) of patients seeking cannabis as a medicine (conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder), followed by pain-related. However, while more than half of US states (33 plus Washington, DC) have medical cannabis frameworks in effect, only 24 states list any mood-related disorder as a qualifying condition and in all of those cases only PTSD is listed.
“As the US continues to progress with new states creating frameworks for medical cannabis usage, the industry is primed for Real-World Evidence (RWE) on the benefits on medical cannabis, which is credible data that the marketplace lacks. As of today, the discrepancy between legislative constraints and patient needs is huge,” said Prad Sekar, CEO of CB2 Insights. “RWE vital to ensure that patients, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders are able to access appropriate intelligence to better integrate this new therapy into traditional treatment plans.”
Key highlights of the report include:
· Followed by mood-related conditions, pain-related conditions were a close second (33.05%) which includes conditions such as migraines, chronic pain, back problems and spinal cord injuries.
· According to the study, 15.33% sought cannabinoid therapy for sleep-related disorders. While most states have approved chronic and intractable pain as a qualifying condition for cannabis usage, the vast majority list PTSD as the only qualifying mood-related condition and two states do not allow for mood-related conditions to qualify at all.
· 7 states plus Washington, DC allow for a certified healthcare practitioner to provide a medical document for patients they deem cannabis as a treatment to be appropriate for any condition; thus allowing those with broader mood-related conditions to qualify.
CB2 Insights focuses on bridging the evidence-based data gap within the medical cannabis industry through predictive analytics tools obtained from the Company’s software and service offerings. The Company’s sub-brands have reached more than 300,000 cannabis patient interactions worldwide.
Patients were studied over a 4-week period across 4 states and out of 16 evaluation and education centers run by CB2 Insights’ subsidiary, Canna Care Docs.
Within the report, CB2 Insights assessed nearly 500 patients across multiple states within the CB2’s medical cannabis evaluation and education centers, Canna Care Docs. Patients who visit Canna Care Docs seeking comprehensive evaluation and education services are seen by both certified clinicians and educators to assess primary and secondary conditions, symptoms, previous treatments, current medication and many other data points that are used for confidential treatment planning for the patient.
SHOULD YOU DITCH THE GYM AND WORK OUT AT HOME INSTEAD?
Fitness Pro with the Pros and Cons of at Home Workouts
When it comes to exercise, some people prefer going for a run, others enjoy a spin class, others may prefer a gym while others opt for a workout mat in their living room. To break down the pros and cons of at home workouts, we spoke with Vince Sant, Fitness Expert, Certified Trainer and Co-Founder of V Shred an online fitness portal based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to Vince, the key is to create a workout regimen that is sustainable. “You really want to create something that is fun, fast and effective. When considering an at home workout it’s important to get honest and determine if it’s a match for your exercise style and mindset.”
That said, let’s get into it.
Working out from home is convenient!
Roll out of bed, and you can be working out within a few minutes. Sounds easy enough. If that were the case obesity wouldn’t be an issue. Everyone would be in excellent shape. “The truth is some people need to go somewhere to get serious about exercise. Sometimes when things are too convenient, we lose motivation,” explains Vince. This makes sense when we consider why shared office spaces are so popular. Some people need to be outside of the home to be productive. “People who can work out from home are usually great at time management, aren’t distracted, are fully committed and are disciplined,” says Vince. Convenience is clearly both a pro and a con depending on the person.
No more expensive gym fees!
There’s nothing worse than paying for a gym membership that goes unused. Many can relate. Working out from home eliminates these monthly gym payments. This is definitely a pro for many people. “Thanks to mobile technology more and more people are turning to fitness apps and online portals for ‘virtual training.’ When I was creating the many workouts for men and women along with the menu options and recipes, I asked myself what can V Shred offer that would be better than a gym for way less money.” It seems like more and more people are embracing virtual training that also has a nice community feel where people can share their progress in social media groups.
No distractions!
Many people find the gym to be more about socializing than fitness. Many women have to wear earbuds and make it clear through body language that they aren’t interested in being hit on. “The gym is definitely a place where some people see it as a great place to find prospective dates. If you’re into fitness, then the best place to meet someone who is also into fitness would be at the gym. However, I totally empathize with people who want to do their work out without any distraction or awkward interactions,” Vince shares.
Privacy!
Want to bend, grunt and look your absolute worst without any care? Then working out at home is for you. “The majority of guys don’t care about this sort of thing. However, looking cute at the gym is a priority to many women. Aside of their wanting to look good, they also don’t want to be self- conscious as they are on all fours doing leg kicks, on an abductor machine, or grunting while doing that last sumo squat. People who are a bit more private about working out prefer to do it at home.
Kid friendly!
The at-home fitness trend is a favorite to moms who work from home and want to get fit while watching their little ones. “Many moms complain that they could never go to a gym with a baby or toddler. Some gyms offer kiddie care but it’s not the same as putting down a mat with your child right there. It also raises kids with exercise a part of their day right from the start, which is very important,” says Vince.
No machines!
Many people avoid the gym because they feel intimidated by the machines and weights. Some people who train at home choose to add basic equipment such as resistance bands, exercise balls, weight balls, kettlebells, jump rope, and weights. Vince assures people that they can get amazing results with no equipment at all. In fact, one of the things he wanted to offer people through his V Shred workouts were a plethora of equipment-free workout options that use the body as resistance.
“If machines aren’t your thing, then at home high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can work wonders. The key is mixing up different moves and challenging yourself. Getting creative with moves and music can keep things efficient, effective and fun,” says Vince.
For those who prefer zoning out on a treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical, these machines can be bought and added to a home gym if space allows.
Regardless of whether you choose to keep the gym membership or create an at-home routine sticking with it is key. “Either way you really need accountability, especially in the beginning or when you are working towards a specific goal. This was why I decided to offer virtual trainers in the V Shred platform. Mindset is everything when it comes to fitness. It’s important to have a real expert to support you along the way,” Vince says.
About Vince Sant:
Fitness Expert & Co-Founder V Shred
Vince Sant, 25, is the Co-Founder of V Shred, the fastest growing online fitness and nutrition portal in the world. As an ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer, Former Model Turned Fitness Expert, Instagram Fitness Guru & YouTube Sensation, Vince’s mission is to offer the masses a sustainable and transformative lifestyle-based training program designed to put the fun back into fitness and nutrition.
In 2015, Vince co-founded V Shred along with Nick Daniel, Roger Crandall, Kevin Pearn, who sought out to create a healthy fitness movement specifically designed to deliver profound changes in your body with the minimal amount of workout time.
Vince is responsible for creating some of the world's most popular fitness and nutrition programs such as Fat Loss Extreme and Toned in 90 Days for women and men and Ripped in 90 Days for men.
V Shred is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information visit http://www.vshred.com
Cryopreservation company, Acorn Biolabs closes $3.3M seed funding and ramps towards consumer launch
The world's first non-invasive home-cell collection service will allow consumers to easily collect live cells for future therapeutic uses.
TORONTO, Jan. 16, 2019 /CNW/ - Acorn Biolabs, a biotechnology company focused on delivering an easy, affordable, non-invasive and trusted cell preservation service, today announced it has closed $3.3 million in seed funding from Real Ventures, Globalive Technology, Pool Global Partners and Epic Capital Management and other unnamed partners. Acorn's at-home collection kit will allow consumers to safely and effortlessly collect their own cells by plucking their hair follicles in the comfort of their homes and have them reliably transported for safe preservation and future use.
As people age, their cells deteriorate and experience irreversible damage. As a result, there is a dramatic decline in success rates of using older cells for medical therapies. "In our later years, when we need our cells for regenerative therapies, our cells are the least viable," said Dr. Drew Taylor, Co-Founder and CEO at Acorn Biolabs. "Rapid advancements in the therapeutic use of cells, including the ability to grow human tissue sections, cartilage, artificial skin and stem cells, are already being delivered. Entire heart, liver and kidneys are really just around the corner. The urgency around collecting, preserving and banking youthful cells for future use is real and freezing the clock on your cells will ensure you can leverage them later when you need them."
"Consumers have already begun to widely embrace the idea that you can collect your cells and use them to understand your ancestry and obtain basic health reports," said JS Cournoyer, Co-Founder and Partner, Real Ventures and Co-Founder, Element AI. "With advancements in cell therapies that leverage live cells, consumer understanding of the much larger value that their cells could have will also increase. And, as medical use of cells advances at a breakthrough pace beyond simple ancestry and health reporting, Acorn's service will become inextricably tied to how people think about their future personal healthcare."
Saliva-based mail-in kits leverage less than 1% of the full genome of any human cell – making their use limited to only a small subset of what could really revolutionize healthcare. Acorn's live cell collection solution delivers the opportunity for full 100% genome banking, giving consumers potential access to many more medical insights and therapies that leverage their own cells.
"Until now, any live cell collection solutions have been highly expensive, invasive and often painful, as well as being geographically limited to specialized clinics," said Anthony Lacavera, Founder and Chairman at Globalive. "Acorn is an industry-leading example of how technology can bring real innovation to enable future healthcare solutions that will have meaningful impact on people's wellbeing and longevity, while at the same time - make it easy, affordable and frictionless for everyone."
With this new round of funding, Acorn adds key resources to its team to ramp towards market availability. Jacquie Chapman, an experienced industry veteran joins Acorn as Chief Operating Officer bringing a wealth of experience across business transformation, globalization as well as business strategy from top tier management consulting, marketing and health companies including The Boston Consulting Group, LoyaltyOne and Precision Nutrition; and Sonya Verheyden joins Acorn as Chief Marketing Officer bringing an extensive background across consumer and enterprise technology, telecommunications and mobile through global marketing roles including Rogers Communications, BlackBerry, and Motorola.
The company is currently planning for commercial availability of the consumer home collection and cryopreservation service in Q2 2019. Sign-up for updates at www.acorn.me.
About Acorn Biolabs, Inc. Founded in 2017 by Steven ten Holder, Patrick Pumputis and Dr. Drew Taylor and born out of years of research, Acorn is a biotechnology company based at JLABS in the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, Canada - the heart of innovation in medical and bio technology. Acorn is bringing to market the world's first home-based, affordable and non-invasive consumer live cell collection kit and cryopreservation service. Acorn helps you collect and preserve your cells today, so you can leverage them in the future when you need them. Acorn enables consumers to save their cells so they can leverage the promise that cell therapies will deliver in the future to dramatically improve their healthspan. Visit acorn.me
About Real Ventures Real is Canada's most active early stage VC and a driving force behind emerging tech ecosystems. Established in 2007, they have invested in over 200 companies across five funds, with $330M under management. The firm invests throughout the life-cycle of early-stage companies and provides stage-appropriate capital and support for the founders it backs. Real believes that VCs should play a role in accelerating the creation of world-class tech ecosystems by providing support beyond the companies for whom it writes cheques. It's this collaborative mindset that inspires Real to launch initiatives that lay, or build upon, the foundations of rapidly growing tech hubs in Canada, and wherever else the firm may go. realventures.com
About Globalive Technology Globalive Technology is a next generation software company and venture partner that is developing and investing in innovative solutions to disrupt traditional industries using primarily AI, IoT and blockchain technology. The company forms partnerships with leading high growth companies to co-develop artificial intelligence and blockchain technology stacks. It is controlled by Globalive Capital Inc. which has founded and co-founded 12 businesses over the past 20 years with 6 successful exits ranging from $10M to $1.3B USD. It has also made over 100 venture investments and has over 45 technology companies in its portfolio. For more information, visit www.globalivetech.com.
About Pool Global Partners Pool Global Partners is a new emerging manager connecting global growth capital with early stage deep technology. An outcome-focused fund, Pool leverages a broad network of Silicon Valley and Toronto based operators with proven track records in seed-to-scale commercialisation to power the next generation of high growth start-ups.
About Epic Capital Management Epic Capital is one of the most prolific venture capital investors in the Canadian health technology space. Over the last four years, we have invested in 27 companies from coast to coast and helped catalyze over $200 million of investment. Specifically, the firm focuses on companies ready to scale in areas including but not limited to digital health, healthcare IT, artificial intelligence, medical devices, diagnostics and novel healthcare-related service providers. We believe strongly that, when properly resourced, Canadian entrepreneurs can compete and win in health technology on the world stage.
CANADIAN COALITION FOR GENETIC FAIRNESS STATEMENT ON THE QUEBEC COURT OF APPEAL DECISION REGARDING THE GENETIC NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT
(KITCHENER, ON) January 16, 2019 – The Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness (CCGF) was disappointed with the Quebec Court of Appeal view that the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act (GNA) does not constitute a valid exercise of Parliament’s criminal law power. On May 4, 2017, the GNA became law making it a criminal offence for a service provider or anyone entering into a contract with a person to require that person to take or disclose the results of a genetic test or collect use or disclose a person’s genetic test results without written consent.
“People living in Canada should be able to benefit from genetic testing to inform health and life decisions rather than live in fear that their DNA will be used against them by employers, insurers, schools and more,” says Bev Heim-Myers, Chair for the Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness. “The Quebec opinion is a step backwards at a time when we should be increasing the protection of our genetic information at federal, provincial and territorial levels. Genetic discrimination is an important issue in Canada and a barrier to science, medicine and the health and well being of people living in Canada. The Genetic Non-Discrimination Act addresses this problem and protects the genetic test information for the benefit of all Canadians. It is important to note that the Quebec Court of Appeal just provided an advisory opinion on the specific questions referred to them, however, this opinion does put the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act at risk. The CCGF is exploring all options as we move forward with our lawyers.”
This historic law, which passed 3rd reading in the House of Commons by a vote of 222 to 60 in May 2017, enabled all people living in Canada the opportunity to make informed life decisions regarding health and reproduction, without fear of genetic discrimination. This legislation also enabled Canada to remain as a leader in genomic research and has already helped to alleviate the fears of Canadians, encouraging participation in genomics research and clinical trials. All Canadians deserve the right to proactively manage their own health and advance medicine without the fear of genetic discrimination. The Genetic Non-Discrimination Act alleviated that fear and removed barriers, by protecting genetic test information.
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The Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness (CCGF/CCEG) is a coalition of organizations dedicated to preventing genetic discrimination for all Canadians. The Coalition is deeply concerned about discrimination against individuals based on their genetic make-up. We are united to educate Canadians about genetic discrimination and to influence governments both federal and provincial, and other relevant organizations to create change. CCGF/CCEG currently represents 18 hereditary genetic diseases in Canada.
Members of CCGF/CCEG are:
ALS Society of Canada Alzheimer Society of Canada
Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation CORD
The Foundation Fighting Blindness Huntington Society of Canada
Kidney Foundation of Canada Muscular Dystrophy Canada
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada Osteoporosis Canada
Ovarian Cancer Canada Parkinson Society of Canada
Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics
Canadian PKU & Allied Disorders Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Association of Canada
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Congenital Heart Alliance Individual Members
The Genetic Non-Discrimination Act prohibits any person from requiring an individual to undergo a genetic test or disclose the results of a genetic test as a condition of providing goods or services to, entering into or continuing a contract or agreement with, or offering specific conditions in a contract or agreement with, the individual. Exceptions are provided for health care practitioners and researchers. The enactment provides individuals with other protections related to genetic testing and test results.
The act amends the Canada Labour Code to protect employees from being required to undergo or to disclose the results of a genetic test, and provides employees with other protections related to genetic testing and test results. It also amends the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the ground of genetic charac
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